German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung says the claim is over 400 million dollars (£248m).

The suit centres on a BayernLB banker, who was convicted this summer of taking a 44 million dollar (£27m) illegal payment over the 2006 sale of the bank's stake in the company running Formula One. Bank officials argue the reported 750 million dollars (£465m) price tag was 350 million dollars (£217m) too low.

Prosecutors said the payment to the banker was a bribe from Mr Ecclestone. The billionaire is under investigation.